The Hawkes of Smugglers Cove - Eye of the Raven (Book 3)

About the Book

In Book One, the Hawkes marry and build a log home in Smugglers Cove, and raise a family. In book 2, "Bear Country," Richard Banks, Adam's stepfather, is killed by a bear in Shipwreck Bay. Adam and his mother reluctantly take over the bear guiding business. The bear continued to murder, and became known as "Killer Bear."

Adam is accidentally shot by a client, and abandoned bear guiding, in favor of chartering for nature and birding trips. Leif marries beautiful Patty Happy, but the marriage ends in disaster.

Archie Wheeler, his wife July and their adopted daughter, Jane, are considered part of the Hawke family. Jane, a Tlingit Indian, had been salvaged from a murdering outlaw at the age of five, and no one knew her background. Home-schooled, she was an intelligent, beautiful girl, capable of becoming a valuable asset to any community, until she ventured to Seattle, where she discovered racial discrimination against Indians.

In Book Three, air travel became available in formerly isolated southeast Alaska, opening tourism as well as other business.

The nature trips were successful, until the Navy confiscated the Adventuress to patrol southeast Alaska waters during World War Two. Fred joined the Navy and served in the Amphibious Corps. Adam began salmon trolling with the Ann.

Fred returned from the Navy, convinced his mother and father should divide their acreage and allow a Christian-oriented guest facility, the Golden Rule Lodge, to be built. The facility offered employment to people in Smugglers Cove.

Jane accidentally discovered her tragic past.

The trilogy covers from 1919 to 1950, a period of tremendous change in Alaska.

About the Author

When Francis Caldwell writes about Alaska and its wildlife, it's with the authority gleaned during half a century of roaming Alaska's forests and exploring its countless bays, rivers, fiords, oceans and mountains. He has accumulated a vast storehouse of knowledge that he shares with his readers.

For example, when the author writes about shorebird migrations at "Stormy River," he's drawing upon his experiences in the Copper and Stikine River's deltas. He was the invited keynote speaker at the Copper River Delta Shorebird Festival.

When Caldwell writes about salmon and halibut, it's with the authority of someone who owned and operated his own commercial fishing vessel for four decades in Alaska.

Most of the places mentioned still exist, but names have been changed, a technique copied after the late James Michener. The animals, birds, nature and places are real and, with exceptions, can still be seen.

To read about the author's experiences with bears, read 'Up Close and Personal with Alaska's Bears,' in Book 2, "Bear Country."

The author can write with authority about single cylinder, air cooled engines in small boats because he explored much of southeast Alaska with one. (See Salmon on my mind) on Caldwell's website.

Book Three covers the period from the time Adam is accidentally shot by one of his clients, their new business of chartering for bird watchers and fishermen, Fred's induction into the Navy and building the Golden Rule Lodge.

Their yacht, the Adventuress was confiscated by the Navy during World War II, during a time when the Japanese were expected to invade southeast Alaska.

Fred served in the South Pacific Theatre aboard a Landing Ship Tank (LST) in the Navy's Amphibious Corps, as did the author.

The author lives with his wife Donna in Port Angeles, WA. Check out their website, www.francisdonnacaldwell.com